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[quote name='BigRedX' post='573583' date='Aug 18 2009, 10:37 PM']Sounds like an exceptional drummer then.[/quote] Apparently, long before I played with him, he was laying drum tracks to nothing but a click in the studio when the click disappeared for about half a minute or more. When it came back in he was perfectly in time with it. I have this on very good authority. Pretty awesome timing I reckon. In fact, I think he deserves a big up for that, Hamid Mantu from Transglobal Underground. This will end up in the BC Cliché thread now

The drummer I play with in the two bands that use backing tracks never uses a click. He gets a good band mix with the backing tracks a little louder in his wedge and plays to that. BUT there is usually a percussion track in there or some other rhythmic reference. Other than that he has extraordinarily good time sense.

[quote name='lowdown' post='573424' date='Aug 18 2009, 08:29 PM']I think it should be called[b] Augmenting tracks[/b]. Because thats what you are doing. I have done countless shows and tours with large bands that have been Augmented with some kind of extra percussion or stg and brass parts or even 2nd guitar parts, or whatever with the use of a click. And it aint anything new. The Who used a reel to reel in the early days of Wont Get Fooled Again, live [the Arp synth part] Would not call them unmusical,whatever your taste in music is. Go for it. Garry[/quote] Well said. The point is that music and creativity is happening and people are being pleased by it. Music, recorded or performed, should not be reduced to religious dogma.

[quote name='doctor_of_the_bass' post='573137' date='Aug 18 2009, 04:35 PM']Many name bands use backing tracks (even Yes!) - I used to be dead against the idea but when you are a tight band then the use of tracks to augment the music is a good thing (we use them in the panto band, drummer has the click and its very tight and it sounds like there's extra musos in there, as opposed to something just stuck on!). Obviously, in an ideal world where budgets don't come into play, then a full band is still the best thing![/quote] The people I play with have no choice if they want to recreate their back catalogue. They traveled around Africa, India, eastern Europe recording people singing and playing and paid them royalties when it was possible to ensure they get the money, even hired them to play live if they were touring those countries. These samples ended up on their albums over the last decade. Backing tracks are essential live, the sounds are so signature that no-one could recreate them. The live band are all amazing musicians, classically trained but playing global fusion dance music. Sometimes it's not as simple as putting a jazz band together with a bunch of backing singers and a big string section rather than use the "horror" of backing tracks.

[quote name='bilbo230763' post='573120' date='Aug 18 2009, 04:24 PM']Fmndhisud scchtn th mmmnnth....(he says, biting his tongue....)[/quote] I knew you'd feel that way.

I changed my name to H786 XSP. It was a lot cheaper than getting a personalised number plate.

If dood can be persuaded to do a POD X3 Live workshop, that would be super cool. If he's going that is.

Jimmy Choo - is he the best shooz?

[quote name='bythesea' post='570073' date='Aug 15 2009, 05:24 PM']I like black but if you want something different you could have a look [url="http://www.classicguitarboxes.com/thumb_rests.php"]here[/url] [/quote] They are really nice, I had an ebony one on my headless.

[quote name='alexclaber' post='564293' date='Aug 9 2009, 06:08 PM']It took me almost as long to work out my custom bass as it did to design my first bass cab. Literally hundreds of hours! If you're starting from a blank sheet of paper there is no hope of getting what you want, it's too much of an art and not enough of a science for that! Alex[/quote] Completely agree with that. One thing I did was to learn how to fret a bass. I got a StewMac kit and refretted an old Jap Squier Jazz which I'd defretted years before. I learned a huge amount about how a neck works and managed to get a very decent feeling bass by doing it. It was by no means a great fret job, but it was a very valuable experience.

After a similar journey, albeit not as high altitude , I am so glad I have found Warwick Corvettes satisfy all my requirements. I love the feel, the wonderfully thought out ergonomic touches, the superb hardware design, flip tronics cover, adjustable nut, lovely fingerboards and frets, the assembly and finishing, the woods, the reliability, the tone, everything. I would be SO hesitant to go the custom route, unless, as others have said, I knew precisely what I wanted.

I really love DR Black Beauties, they do last a long time but mine are sounding a bit dead now after a few months on. I'm tempted to try La Bella Black Nylon tapewound on my fretted bass as they are fabulous on my fretless basses. Never tried tapes on a fretted bass before, logic tells me they will get mashed quickly, am I right?

The people in the Bass Cellar just don't appear to be interested in helping me beyond the very basic level. They seem disinterested, resigned to a miserable life in music retail. I've tried to have a conversation in there and I felt like I was imposing on their time, even though I was one of two customers in there and there were two staff and someone from another shop having a natter with one of them. The lack of enthusiasm was galling. Had to call them about their stock the other day, and while the guy was polite, he really didn't help me at all. Me "have you got one of these?", him "no sorry, sold our only one yesterday". Me, "anything similar?", him, "no, nothing similar". I would have expected the usual "we can order one for you" etc., but nothing. I felt undervalued as a potential customer. I had money to spend that day too. I have just come back from Waitrose, and we had a great time in there as usual. Had a great laugh with the woman on the till, one of the guys in the alky section was incredibly helpful, all really cheery, happy people. Most retailers could learn so much from a trip to Waitrose or John Lewis. Their attitude to customer service is pretty perfect. Then go to Tesco, dirty checkouts in bad repair, unhelpful stressed out staff, miserable looking customers who can't wait to get the hell out.

[quote name='Josh' post='562938' date='Aug 7 2009, 05:47 PM']Apologies for the forthcoming rant. I think I'm almost at the end of my tether in regards to basses. I have been through a plethora of high-end basses over the last 6 months or so, and I haven't been able to settle on one for more than a couple of months before I move it on again because of stupid little things that I'm so fussy with it is quickly becoming a problem. I've only had my Smith for barely a week and I'm just about to ready to list it up for sale. While tonewise I can't fault it and love what I can get from it, but after constantly resetting the action over the last few days(Both the neck and bridge) I can not find my ideal and preferred set up. To clarify, my ideal set up is a stupidly low action, with minor buzz and the tension is usually quite low because I dig in a lot, and as such I compensate by playing a full step down. Ironically, my £200 Squier has this action and I achieved it with ease, yet on a £3000 boutique bass I can't seem to get anywhere near it without seriously choking a lot of the notes. I'm definitely not alone in being exceedingly fussy over set ups but I feel that I'm now almost too fussy for my own good. I'm irritated mainly because I've wanted a Smith for long time now and now I have one and was brilliant for the first few days, and now I really can't get on with it already...it's ridiculous. Again. I apologise for the rant but this is just getting silly now.[/quote] There is a lot of contradiction in the way you say you play and the ideal set up you like. You can't have your cake and eat it. However, because it's a bolt on, you may have a slight "S" curve in your fingerboard profile where the neck joins the body. In which case you'll need a fret level and dress to get your lowest action possible. If you dig in, you need room.

[quote name='doctor_of_the_bass' post='561638' date='Aug 6 2009, 12:49 AM']One of my all-time fave albums! Horn plays fretless bass on `Run Through The Light'. In fact, it is said that without *Drama, 90125 may not have happened - the rest is history! Plus, whilst Yes were recording that album with Horn producing, one of Yes' roadcrew was sat watching `Frankie Goes To Hollywood' when they were playing on The Tube; Horn was very impressed and the rest is again history! Nick (Tempus Fugit and Does it Really Happen - the best tracks on there*!)[/quote] I was playing Tempus Fugit on my new Wick tonight. I love the video on the ytube! [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78BivgombIE"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78BivgombIE[/url] I'd LUUURRRVE that Elektra!

I really like Drama by yes, thought he and Geoff Downs did a cracking job.

[quote name='BigBeefChief' post='560346' date='Aug 4 2009, 04:35 PM']Call me a weirdo, but I can't suck up to a guy just because he's an incredible musician.[/quote] No-one is asking you to.